Highlights of the Danube Bike+Boat

Passau – Budapest – Passau

Impressions along the Danube

Accompanied by a cruise ship you cycle along Europe’s second largest river Danube from the charming Bavarian “three river city” of Passau straight into the heart of the once glorious Imperial and Royal Monarchy. Enjoy three of the most enchanting European capitals: the lively Vienna, the Slovak coronation city of Bratislava at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains and Budapest, the “Hungarian Danube Queen”! By bicycle you discover the stunning natural spectacle of the Schlögener Donauschlinge (“Great Loop”), the legendary Wachau with romantic towns and mighty castles amidst lovely vineyards, the untouched alluvial forests of the Danube National Park, as well as the baroque town of Vác with its colourful 18th century houses.. The highlights of the tour: Passau, the City of 3 rivers, the Schloegen Danube Loop, the Hungarian Danube Bend, the World Heritage Site Wachau, the metropoles of Bratislava, Budapest and Vienna.

Dates 2025:

MV Prinzessin Katharina

Arrival: Saturday
Duration: 8 days

Season 1: April 12., Oct 4.
Season 2: April 26., Sept 27.
Season 3: May 10./24./31., July 19./26., Aug 23./30.

MV SE-Manon**

Arrival: Friday

Season 1: Sept 19./26.
Season 2: June 27., July 04./11., Aug 01./08./15., Sept 05./12.

Min.number of participants: 80/90 persons (until 4 weeks prior departure)

**slightly changed itinerary (details upon request)

1st Day: Passau – Engelhartszell

Arrival in the “Three River City”. Passau attracts many with the world’s greatest church organ at the Stephansdom and its charming Old Town. Embarkation will be around 4:00 pm, departure around 7 pm. Enjoy your first dinner on board and an evening sail to Engelhartszell.

2nd Day: Engelhartszell – Great Loop – Aschach – Vienna Nussdorf, approx. 40-43 km

The day starts in Engelhartszell (the only Trappist monastery in Austria), where we head towards the “Great Loop” – one of the most beautiful and original sectors of the Danube. Your cycling will encounter small villages and cosy must-see taverns. You’ll board again in Aschach. Then, you “sail into the night” towards Vienna-Nussdorf.

3rd Day: Vienna-Nussdorf (day of rest)

You should be sure to see the most famous places of interest like the St. Stephens Cathedral, the Hofburg, the gorgeous boulevard “Ringstraβe” with the Burgtheater, the State Opera House or the town hall that takes you back to the past. In the night shipping to Budapest.

4th Day: Budapest (day of rest) or roundtrip to Szentendre, approx. 48 km

In the early morning, you enjoy the panoramic view of the Danube’s gorgeous landscape on the Sundeck. The gateway to Budapest is overwhelming, as many of the famous tourist features are situated directly next to the river bank. In the afternoon you can explore the numerous attractions of the city. Nearby, you find the Margaretheninsel which is outstandingly qualified for a small bike tour or the charming town of Szentendre with Mediterranean atmosphere and lively art life. In the night shipping to Visegrad.

5th Day: Danube Bend | Visegrad – Vác – Visegrad, approx. 36 km

The Danube bend is definitely a delightful part and is called the Hungarian Wachau. Today’s bike leg starts at Visegrad with its famous fortress and the ruins of the former palace. You cycle through the picturesque countryside via the Szentendre Peninsula to the baroque village of Vác, which has been influenced by the architects of the Austrian empress Maria Theresia. Via small Hungarian villages you return to Visegrad. In the afternoon shipping to Bratislava.

6th Day: Bratislava (day of rest)

Arrival at Bratislava in the morning. Today discover the small lively capital of Slovakia. Tip: Enjoy a magnificent panoramic view from the castle and take a ride on a mini train through the enchanting old town. Alternatively, explore the surrounding of the city along the Danube during a guided bike tour. In the night shipping to Rossatz or Dürnstein (Wachau).

7th Day: Wachau – Melk – Pöchlarn, approx. 40 – 50 km

Your last biking day is a special highlight! Amidst small dreamy villages, apricot trees, vineyards, castles, monasteries and ruins, this gentle hilly landscape enchants everybody. A powerful ruin looms above the small Baroque town of Dürnstein, while the blue tower of the monastery church is a landmark of Wachau. In the small village of Pöchlarn you will board again. After the farewell gala dinner, you start “sailing” back to Passau.

8th Day: Departure from Passau

Every journey draws to an end. Once again you enjoy on deck the first sunbeams and the peaceful silence of the Danube Valley. Take a last sight at the Schlögener Schlinge (“Great Loop”) before you arrive relaxed at Passau. Arrival: approx. at 10/11 am, disembarkation half an hour later. We recommend to book train connections from approx. 1:30 pm onwards.

Important Information

Schedule and program changes Basically, we reserve the right to make changes of routing and program. In case of flood or low tide, the shipping company reserves the right to bridge parts of passages by buses. In extreme situations, the shipping company reserves the right to cancel the journey on short notice. No legal right shall be constituted of both situations. The same applies for officially ordered – previously not announced – repair work on locks or bridges.

YOUR ACCOMMODATION:

PremiumshIP MV SE-MANON

On board our comfortable premium ship MS SE-MANON you will find a relaxed and cosy atmosphere. After the bike tour you can use the small inviting wellness area with sauna and whirlpool, read a book in the pleasant library or relax in the panorama salon. Then enjoy your dinner in the restaurant with panoramic view. The spacious and partly shaded sun deck holds deck chairs, which invite you to enjoy the passing scenery. Here is also the storage space for the bicycles. A special highlight is the outdoor pool (8,70 m x 4,50 m, approx. May to August, depending on weather).

Passenger decks/cabins:
All 74 cabins are outside cabins, about 14 m² in size, comfortably furnished with hotel beds and featuring en-suite facilities with shower/WC* (*cabins no. 306, 307, 308, 309 with bathtub), hairdryer, TV, safe, in-house telephone and individually adjustable air conditioning. An elevator connects the middle deck with the lobby and the restaurant. The upper deck and sun deck can be reached via stair lift. The main deck is only accessible via stairs.

Upper deck: cabins with french balcony (= floor-to-ceiling windows which can be opened).
Middle deck: cabins with large panorama window – can be opened.
Main deck: cabins with a small window (height approx. 40 cm) – cannot be opened).

ship MV PRINZESSIN KATHARINA

The comfortable MS Prinzessin Katharina provides the right ambience to make you feel at ease. On board the premium ship you can expect classic elegance, a tasteful interior and a friendly crew. Enjoy the special atmosphere and let yourself be spoilt by the good cuisine. On two passenger decks you will find a panoramic restaurant, a comfortable salon, two bars and an inviting foyer, a book corner, a small shop and a massage parlour. On the spacious, partly covered sun deck there are enough deck chairs available.

Passenger decks/cabins:
All 71 cabins are outside cabins and comfortably and tastefully furnished featuring en-suite facilities with shower/WC, hair dryer, air-conditioning, TV, on-board-radio, telephone and a small refrigerator.

Upper deck: 29 two-bed cabins, 1 triple cabin und 2 single cabins; all cabins have approx. 9-11 m² with French balcony (= floor-to-ceiling windows which can be opened). 2-bed cabins with a sofa bed and a pullman bed (stowed during the day for more comfort). In the triple cabin a 3rd bed is folded down from the wall (max. 80 kg).
Main deck: 38 two-bed cabins, 1 single cabin (all cabins have approx. 11 m²) with two sofa beds standing in a right angle and a picture window (not to open).

YOUR BicYcles:

7-speed unisex
E-Bikes

Quality brand bicycles
Trekking bikes with back pedal or freewheel
8-speed E-Bikes
pannier bag
Bike insurance

Please note: We recommend to wear a bike helmet. Please bring your own bike helmet and, if necessary, your high-visibility vest from home. Onboard selling (limited quantities;brand: UVEX I-VO): € 40,-/piece. In Austria, helmets are compulsory for children under the age of 13, in Slovakia for all cyclists outside built-up areas. High-visibility vests are compulsory in Slovakia and Hungary in poor visibility and at night.

ARRIVAL INFORMATION:

Parking

Parking space inclusive transfer to/from ship € 80.-
Parking garage inclusive transfer to/from ship € 94.-
registration form in the travel-documents, payable on site

Train station

Station: Passau Hauptbahnhof (main train station)
Busses and Taxis available on site

Airport

next airport: Munich (MUC)

7 nights in outside cabins with private facilities in the booked cabin category
Programme according itinerary from/to Passau
All passenger fees and port fees
Captains greeting and Welcome-Drink
Daily cabin cleaning. Changing of towels and bed cloths as necessary.
Full meals: 7x breakfast, 6x packed lunch for cyclists or lunch snack on board (non cyclists), 6x afternoon coffee break, 6x 3-course-dinner and 1x farewell-dinner with farewell-drink
Daily informational meeting
Detailed digital travel documents, navigation app, and GPS data for the bike tours
Tour guide on board

MV SE-MANON	Season 1	Season 2
2-bed cabin main deck	1.149,-	1.199,-
2-bed cabin middle deck	1.399,-	1.449,-
2-bed cabin upper deck	1.549,-	1.599,-
2-bed cabin single use	+40%	+40%

MV PRINZESSIN KATHARINA	Season 1	Season 2	Season 3
2-bed cabin Eco*	849,-	949,-	1.049,-
2-bed cabin main deck	999,-	1.099,-	1.199,-
1-bed cabin main deck	1.299,-	1.399,-	1.499,-
3-bed cabin upper deck	949,-	1.049,-	1.149,-
2-bed cabin upper deck	1.199,-	1.299,-	1.399,-
1-bed cabin upper deck	1.499,-	1.599,-	1.699,-
2-bed cabin single use main deck	+40%	+40%	+40%